An evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction, loneliness and happiness in middle school students

This research seeks to discuss whether internet addiction in middle school students differs in terms of variables such as sex, grade level, mother's educational level, father's educational level, academic standing, economic status, the device used to browse the internet, duration of internet use, and purpose of internet use, and to investigate the relationship between internet addiction, loneliness, and happiness in middle school students. The research sample consists of 927 middle school students attending different schools in Adıyaman province, Merkez district in the 2021-2022 school year. For this research, the Personal Information Form, Internet Addiction Test, and Children's Loneliness Scale were used as data collection tools 5-8. The Classroom Form and School Children's Happiness Inventory were used as well. T-test and ANOVA were used to analyze the significance of students' internet addiction levels based on various demographic variables, Pearson Correlation analysis was utilized to examine the relationship between these variables, and the multi-regression analysis was conducted to investigate the predictor role of internet addiction on loneliness and happiness levels. The research revealed a statistically significant difference between internet addiction and students' sex, grade level, and duration and purpose of internet use. However, no statistically significant difference was found between internet addiction and parent's educational levels, academic standing, economic status, and the device used to browse the internet. It was found that there is a moderately significant positive correlation between students' internet addiction and loneliness levels, a moderately significant negative correlation between internet addiction and happiness, and a moderately significant negative correlation between loneliness and happiness levels in middle school students. It is seen that loneliness and happiness significantly predicted students' internet addiction. The findings gathered from this research are discussed in light of the literature, and recommendations are provided.